Group Challenges Law Limiting Anti-Discrimination Protection

Lawyers for local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists were in the Tennessee Court of Appeals Monday arguing for their right to go to trial after a lower court dismissed their case last year, the Nashville City Paper reports. The lead plaintiff on the case is former Belmont University women’s soccer coach Lisa Howe, whose exit from the school in 2010 prompted national media coverage. In response, the Metro Council passed a law demanding that companies working with the government have nondiscrimination policies that include protections for sexual orientation. The state legislature responded by passing a measure that prohibits cities from extending protection to groups not mentioned in the Tennessee Human Rights Act. The groups are challenging that law. The state argues the suit should be dismissed because none of the plaintiffs were actually harmed by the law.